Pumping apparatus



May 14, 1929. cs. c. ENGSTRAND PUMPI NG APPARATUS Filed March 18. 1924 top into the ship tank and a low top over the ship side and discharges di- Patented May 14, .1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

QUNNARG. ENG-STRAND, OE IBFOOKLYQN', NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, ."BY MESNE ASSIGN- HENTS, TO SALVAGE PROCESS CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORA- zrron or new YORK.

PUMPING APPARATUS.

Application filed March 18, 1924. Serial 110. 700,009.

, My invention relates to a pumping apparatus for the withdrawal ot fuel oil and residue from the tanks of a vessel.

This liquid material is viscous, sticky, and in cold weather.almostjelly-like, and due to its nature it cannot be pumped either in a solid column or in an aerated one, but it has to be transmitted in an air stream in a broken up condition.

My invention has for its object to furnish a steam-ejector so as to divide the air transmission into two distinct lines viz. a low suction vacuum line which passes from the tank ressure discharge line which passes from t e tank rectly into a slop barge.

By raising the material by suction to the ing parts, 1 represents the vessel from which the fuel oil is pumped. Alongside the vessel an ordinary slop barge 2 is moored.

A flexible hose is shown connecting the ship tank with the slop barge and this hose transmission line is divided into the low suction intake line 4 and the low pressure discharge line 5 by the steam ejector 3.

The steam ejector has three nozzles 6 which are of such a construction that they can be readily secured to standard fittings tank top only, the necessity of tanks arid.

high vacuum pumps is eliminated and an ordinary low suction steam ejector can be used. My invention has also for its object to admit atmospheric air at the suction end in order to break up and carry the viscous material to the steam ejector.

My invention has also for an object to furnish several high velocity steam jets so as to still further accelerate and break up the viscous material so that the low pressure air stream which ensues after the con- -densation of the steam-is able to carry the material over the ship side. In this way it is possible to use a pressure only slightly higher than the atmospheric pressure to pump the viscous material through a hose of considerable length. I

My invention has finally for its object to provide steam jets which are so constructed and located that the steam in emitting will strike the air and exchange its momentum to the air stream before it strikes the fluid material and condenses.

without obstructing the transmission line.

The nozzle 6 has a restricted opening 7 turned in the direction of flow through which opening the steam will emit at a velocity higher even than that of sound.

Single nozzles 6 are also furnished at reg-v ular intervals higher up the hose, their duty being to accelerate the air stream and to kee the viscous material from flowing toget er. a

The steam is admitted to the nozzles 6 through the steam hoses 8 which are conveniently hooked up to the steam supply on board the ship.

An intake-nozzle 9 with a reduced middle part 10 and an intake bell l1.to be inserted into the material to be pumped is supplied -with the small holes 12 through which atmos pheric air is admitted into the system.

Experiments have shown that a steam pressure of 75 lbs. per square inch will create a vacuum indicated by 20 inches on the mercury gauge at the suction end if no air' is admitted thereto.

Experiments also show that a steam pressure six times as great as the discharge pressure is necessary for the working of the steam ejector.

Therefore in order to keep the steam pressure in the hoses within moderate and prac-' tical limitsit is necessary to keep the discharge pressure of the ejector only slightly above the atmospheric pressure.

With a steam pressure in the ejector of 75 lbs. per square inch and with air admitted through six 5/16 openings'into the suction nozzle the vacuum reaches 10 inches at the'intake and the inrush velocity of the air to the system is 600 feet per second. f This velocity is suflicient to break 11 the material which enters the system throng the restricted nozzle into fragments whichthe attenuated air stream in the suction line 4 carries to the steam ejector 3.

Here the fragments are still further'broken up as steam emits from the nozzles 6 at vavelocity in excess of 1000 feet per sec- It is a well recognized fact that the smaller the particles. are the less the current required to carry the particles.

It has been found that a current velocity of 50 feet per second is sufficient to carry oily sludge and residue through a hose of 4 inches diameter when the material is heated and broken up by a high velocity steam jet.

, In order to maintain such a velocit through a 4 hose of considerable lengt particles which are contained in the airstream. In this manner the emitting steam will strike the air prior to the fluid material and the momentum exchange will take place prior to the condensation.

It is to be noted that the admitted air and not the admitted steam acts as 'the suspension medium.

This arrangement makes possible a great steam economy as a temperature considerably lower than that of steam may be maintained in the transmission line. Also the employment of a low pressure air line insures the safety of the workman.

Referring to the intake nozzle its restricted construction prevents the material from .to be pumped the less will the head be a ainst which the material is primarily liftes and thus by insertin creased or decreased and the feed of material Wlll be accordingly regulated.

I claim:-

1. A pumping apparatus having a tank containing viscous material, a receiver at a higher level and a pipe line connecting them, comprising a nozzle having a restricted portion between the ends thereof and air admission apertures above said portion, said nozzle to be dipped into the material, and means in the line just above the tank to admit high velocity steam eripherally of the pipe in the direction of ow to draw in the air and material to drive it forward by the transfer of momentum and to break up the material into finer fragments.

2. A pumping apparatus including a tank, a pipe line having a nozzle dipping into viscous material in said tank and an ejector providing a high velocity steam jet in the line just above the .tank introducing steam in the direction of flow to draw in air and VISCOIIS material at said nozzle 1n fragments,

'to accelerate the how of the stream as the steam contacts therewith, to break up the material into finer fragments as the same passes said jet, and to heat the material.

GUNNAR c. ENGSTRAND.

the bell more or' less intothe material this head will be inv 

